Mmebusɛm 25
1 Eyinom yɛ Salomo mmebusɛm nkekaho a Yudahene Hesekia afotufo kyerɛwee:
These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 Ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyamhyɛ sɛ wɔde asɛm sie; sɛ wɔpɛɛpɛɛ asɛm mu nso hyɛ ahemfo anuonyam.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 Sɛnea ɔsoro korɔn na asase mu dɔ no, saa ara na wɔrentumi nhwehwɛ ahemfo koma mu.
The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Sɛ woyi dwetɛ ho fi a, na ato nea ɛkɔ dwetɛdwumfo nsam;
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Yi amumɔyɛfo fi ɔhene anim, na trenee bɛma nʼahengua atim.
Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Mma wo ho so wɔ ɔhene anim, na mpere dibea wɔ atitiriw mu;
Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7 Eye ma no sɛ ɔbɛka akyerɛ wo se, “Bra soro ha,” sen sɛ ɔbɛbrɛ wo ase wɔ otitiriw bi anim. Nea wode wʼani ahu no
For better it is that it be said to you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
8 mpɛ ntɛm mfa nkɔ asennii, na sɛ awiei no wo yɔnko gu wʼanim ase a dɛn na wobɛyɛ?
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbor has put you to shame.
9 Sɛ wo ne wo yɔnko di asɛm a nna obi foforo ahintasɛm adi,
Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 anyɛ saa a, nea ɔbɛte no begu wʼanim ase na din bɔne a wubenya no rempepa da.
Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your infamy turn not away.
11 Asɛm a wɔka no sɛnea ɛfata no te sɛ sika kɔkɔɔ a wɔabɔ sɛ aprɛ de atuatua dwetɛ nsiesiei mu.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 Sikakɔkɔɔ asokaa anaa sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa ahyehyɛde te sɛ onyansafo animka a ɔde ma nea ɔyɛ aso ma no.
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on an obedient ear.
13 Sɛnea sukyerɛmma ma wim dwo wɔ otwabere mu no, saa ara na ɔsomafo nokwafo te ma wɔn a wɔsoma no no; na ɔma ne wuranom akomatɔyam.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Omununkum ne mframa a ɛmfa osu mma no te sɛ onipa a ɔde akyɛde a ɔmmfa mma hoahoa ne ho.
Whoever boasts himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 Ntoboase ma sodifo ti da, na tɛkrɛmabere tumi bu dompe mu.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Sɛ wunya ɛwo a, nni ntra so, ne bebrebe bɛma woafe.
Have you found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Ntaa nkɔ wo yɔnko fi, wo ho fono no a, ɔbɛtan wo.
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.
18 Onipa a odi adansekurum tia ne yɔnko no te sɛ kontibaa, afoa anaa bɛmma a ano yɛ nnam.
A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Ɛse a ɛyare ɔkekaw anaa nan a ɛyɛ apakye te sɛ nea wode wo ho to ɔtorofo so hiada mu.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 Nea ɔto dwom kyerɛ ɔwerɛhowni no, te sɛ nea ɔpa ntama gu awɔwbere mu anaa te sɛ nsa nyinyanyinya a wohwie gu apirakuru so.
As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar on nitre, so is he that singes songs to an heavy heart.
21 Sɛ ɔkɔm de wo tamfo a, ma no aduan nni; sɛ osukɔm de no a, ma no nsu nnom.
If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 Sɛ woyɛ saa a, wobɛsosɔ nnyansramma agu nʼatifi, na Awurade bɛma wo akatua.
For you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD shall reward you.
23 Sɛnea atifi fam mframa de osu ba no, saa ara na tɛkrɛma a edi nseku de omuna ba.
The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Eye sɛ wobɛtena suhyɛ twɔtwɔw ase baabi, sen sɛ wo ne ɔyere tɔkwapɛfo bɛtena fie.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 Nsuonwini a ɔkra a atɔ beraw nya no te sɛ anigyesɛm a efi akyirikyiri.
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Asuti a afono anaa abura a ayɛ pɔtɔɔ te sɛ ɔtreneeni a ogyaa ne ho ma amumɔyɛfo.
A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 Enye sɛ wodi ɛwo ntraso, saa ara na ɛnyɛ anuonyam sɛ obi bɛhwehwɛ nsɛm a mu dɔ mu.
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
28 Onipa a onni ahohyɛso no te sɛ kuropɔn a nʼafasu abubu agu fam.
He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
